After a meeting with the project Builder and the Marvin rep (to confirm the specs/order for the Marvin Ultimate DH Windows & Ultimate Swinging French Doors, all in aluminum clad), I went to the construction site to review and take photos. The Second Floor framing is largely up! And, the roof framing to soon follow. I took many photos, and have done my best to post a limited selection that best tells the story of what's happening construction-wise. I've also included a few shots taken from the various Porch spaces, so you can see what the views are like from the First & Second Floor Porches. When you get up to the Second Floor (which is sits above the First Floor AND Ground Floor), the views are amazing due to the high elevation above grade. Although designing/building a house to meet the extensive BFE requirements poses numerous unique challenges... the end result provides views that houses commonly situated 2'-'3 above grade can not match! That's the trade-off. And, in this house's location, I think it's a favorable one. Here are my notes for the posted photos below...
- The first photo is a shot of the Front-Right corner of the house. You can see the Second Floor living & Porch deck at top, above the First Floor living & Porch (and Ground Floor raised Entry at the bottom). This is called a "stacked porch" condition... and both Porches include a minor "wrap-around" to the right side.
- Here's a photo taken at a greater distance, and almost center, to the Front Facade (street side).
- In the third photo, the bay located towards the rear of the house (off of the Great Room space) is in view... with the Rear Porch visible to the right.
- Standing in the First Floor Great Room, this photo is of the bay noted above. From inside the home, the bay acts as an Alcove located on the Living Area side.
As a side note: You can see the rebuilt version of East Village Dune Walk-over Obelisk I originally designed (which was largely destroyed by Hurricane Ike) and a recently completed beachfront residence designed by San Antonio-based Architect Michael Imber.
- The fifth photo is taken while standing in the Kitchen space, looking through the Great Room space, past the First Floor Rear Porch, and beyond to the Gulf. There will be 3 sets of French doors (1 set in each bay) at the rear wall of the Great Room, to ensure great views and permit plenty of outdoor breezes when open.
- At the opposite side of the house... here's a photo taken while standing just behind the First Floor Front Porch, looking out towards the TND, and the wetlands beyond.
- The seventh photo shows the stairs leading up to the Second Floor from the First Floor.
- And, while standing in the same area as noted in the photo above, if you look through the house instead of up the stairs, you can see to the rear wall of the Great Room at back, and the Gulf beyond.
- Now, going up to the Second Floor... here's a shot taken while standing in the Front Porch. From this elevation, the views are amazing... the TND is visible at the forefront, with views to the Galveston Cruise Ship terminal at left, and towards the Ship Channel at right, in the distance. There's quite a bit of naval activity during the day, and at night, the lights are fantastic!
- In the tenth photo, I'm standing in the Second Floor Master Suite looking at the crew beginning the framing around the steel portal wall. You can see the Second Floor Rear Porch just past them, and the Gulf beyond.
- I then walked out onto the Second Floor Rear Porch and took a photo while looking out to the Gulf... I wanted to get a clear shot of the Gulf view available from this elevation. You can see the Dune Walk-over termination at the beach, past the dunes, at the lower right. Now, I'd be lying if I said the water is comparable to the incredibly clear and hued waters of the Design Coast or the Florida Keys. However, the proximity and views of the Gulf from this house are fantastic... and the breezes, smell of the salt air, and the all-around natural beauty that surrounds you from this location are top notch.
- The twelfth and final photo is taken while still standing on the Second Floor Rear Porch... but, this time I looked to the left, past the, as of yet, undeveloped beachfront properties, to the existing houses. How great is this view?! These are beautiful residences, designed by some of the most-talented architects/designers in the country. The house in the forefront is a design by Architect Eric Brown of Brown Design Studio, officed in Beaufort, SC. Please feel free to comment, ask questions, etc.
- The first photo is a shot of the Front-Right corner of the house. You can see the Second Floor living & Porch deck at top, above the First Floor living & Porch (and Ground Floor raised Entry at the bottom). This is called a "stacked porch" condition... and both Porches include a minor "wrap-around" to the right side.
- Here's a photo taken at a greater distance, and almost center, to the Front Facade (street side).
- In the third photo, the bay located towards the rear of the house (off of the Great Room space) is in view... with the Rear Porch visible to the right.
- Standing in the First Floor Great Room, this photo is of the bay noted above. From inside the home, the bay acts as an Alcove located on the Living Area side.
As a side note: You can see the rebuilt version of East Village Dune Walk-over Obelisk I originally designed (which was largely destroyed by Hurricane Ike) and a recently completed beachfront residence designed by San Antonio-based Architect Michael Imber.
- The fifth photo is taken while standing in the Kitchen space, looking through the Great Room space, past the First Floor Rear Porch, and beyond to the Gulf. There will be 3 sets of French doors (1 set in each bay) at the rear wall of the Great Room, to ensure great views and permit plenty of outdoor breezes when open.
- At the opposite side of the house... here's a photo taken while standing just behind the First Floor Front Porch, looking out towards the TND, and the wetlands beyond.
- The seventh photo shows the stairs leading up to the Second Floor from the First Floor.
- And, while standing in the same area as noted in the photo above, if you look through the house instead of up the stairs, you can see to the rear wall of the Great Room at back, and the Gulf beyond.
- Now, going up to the Second Floor... here's a shot taken while standing in the Front Porch. From this elevation, the views are amazing... the TND is visible at the forefront, with views to the Galveston Cruise Ship terminal at left, and towards the Ship Channel at right, in the distance. There's quite a bit of naval activity during the day, and at night, the lights are fantastic!
- In the tenth photo, I'm standing in the Second Floor Master Suite looking at the crew beginning the framing around the steel portal wall. You can see the Second Floor Rear Porch just past them, and the Gulf beyond.
- I then walked out onto the Second Floor Rear Porch and took a photo while looking out to the Gulf... I wanted to get a clear shot of the Gulf view available from this elevation. You can see the Dune Walk-over termination at the beach, past the dunes, at the lower right. Now, I'd be lying if I said the water is comparable to the incredibly clear and hued waters of the Design Coast or the Florida Keys. However, the proximity and views of the Gulf from this house are fantastic... and the breezes, smell of the salt air, and the all-around natural beauty that surrounds you from this location are top notch.
- The twelfth and final photo is taken while still standing on the Second Floor Rear Porch... but, this time I looked to the left, past the, as of yet, undeveloped beachfront properties, to the existing houses. How great is this view?! These are beautiful residences, designed by some of the most-talented architects/designers in the country. The house in the forefront is a design by Architect Eric Brown of Brown Design Studio, officed in Beaufort, SC. Please feel free to comment, ask questions, etc.
You have chosen the best photos, man! They really create a good story of the construction! You have to be jealous of whoever owns that house. The sceneries seen from above show how wonderful nature is! The construction workers must've felt delighted while working. Aside from breathing fresh air, they also had the chance to see those views while at work. Oops! I meant, they should look at them while resting. :D
ReplyDelete-Lawrence Halter